Auto Express June 10, 2015

THE British car business is in fine form. We’re seeing brilliant new British-built cars, like the new Honda Civic Type R, grace our cover almost every other week, car sales are up for the 39th consecutive month, factories and suppliers are busier than they have been in generations and Brits continue to sit at the top table of car companies around the world. No wonder so many of the execs on the Auto Express Brit List say the car industry in the UK is a great place to build a career – see Page 26. So why doesn’t the UK have a motor show when Switzerland, a country not exactly known for its thriving car industry, has one of the biggest shows of the year? That’s puzzled me – and…

Essentials Honda Civic Type R GT Price: £32,295Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo petrolPower/torque: 306bhp/400NmTransmission: Six-speed manual,front-wheel drive0-62mph: 5.7 secondsTop speed: 167mphEconomy: 38.7mpgCO2: 170g/km ON SALE Now WE’VE had to wait an agonising five years for a new Honda Civic Type R, but finally we’ve driven the all-new version of the much-loved hot hatch – and although the brand might be a bit late to the party, it’s definitely been worth the wait. First of all, there are some significant changes under the new, bulging skin compared to the old hot Civic, including a new 2.0-litre turbocharged engine in place of the previous naturally aspirated, high-revving unit. Hardcore Honda purists might not be so pleased, as the old model’s character was defined by this, yet the new Type R is a worthy…

IT’S been a busy 12 months for Vauxhall. Aside from launching a number of Adam derivatives and the new Viva, two of its best-selling cars have been replaced by all-new models. The new Corsa went on sale late last year, and now there’s a brand new seventh-generation Astra – and these are the first pictures of the British-built hatchback. Arriving in showrooms in November, after its September debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the latest Astra will be priced from around £16,000, not much more than the outgoing car. That makes it look good value when compared to a Ford Focus and VW Golf – the cheapest Golf is £17,595. As with other recent Vauxhall launches, a low priced entry-level car will get buyers’ attention, as will improvements to kit…

Mk1 Astra was the first front-wheel-drive Vauxhall when it appeared in 1980. Initially built in Germany, but production moved to UK in 1981. Mk2 The second-generation Astra arrived four years later, spawning saloon and cabriolet versions. It was voted European Car of the Year in 1985. Mk3 The rounder, more stylish Mk3 Astra came in 1991, but it was actually a very heavily revised Mk2, rather than an all-new model. Mk4 Released in 1998, the fourth-generation car was much better to drive, safer and more comfortable than ever before. Mk5 Fifth generation initially only came as a five-door; it took nearly a year for the Sport Hatch and Estate to join the range in late 2004. Mk6 The boldest Astra yet arrived in 2009, with an Insignia-inspired design. Nearly 60,000…

THE rebirth of Alfa Romeo will begin later this year with the unveiling of the eagerly awaited BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia saloon. But the brand isn’t content with just one new model; it’s also set its sights on the booming SUV market. Alfa’s first-ever SUV – previewed in our exclusive main image – will arrive in 2017 to give the current line-up of MiTo, Giulietta and 4C a much-needed boost. The new car will take an upmarket approach as it aims squarely at the likes of the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Range Rover Evoque. And although it doesn’t look like much, the ungainly Fiat 500L mule in our spy shots (opposite) is our first glimpse of the SUV undergoing testing. To the untrained eye, it looks like any other…

ELSEWHERE in the Fiat Group, drawings of the new Maserati Levante have leaked ahead of the car’s reveal later this year. While the luxury SUV won’t share its platform with the new Alfa SUV, it’s expected to use existing Fiat tech. Last year, we learned the Levante would sit on a substantially altered Jeep Cherokee chassis – giving a raised ride height, long wheelbase and wider track. From the drawings, we can see the Maserati will feature a face inspired by the Quattroporte and Ghibli saloons, with a huge gaping grille and swept-back headlights. It looks rather like a Porsche Cayenne from the side, with a sloping roofline and high, sharp creases in the body. Also evident is the raised suspension, emphasising the car’s position as the brand’s first-ever SUV.…